Wednesday, 22 June 2011

I was very fortunate to grow up in South west England, never too far the countryside or the beach. Now whilst I love to walk along a country lane, field or meadow or when fitter try to climb mountains with my husband.

I actually crave the sea, I did not realise how much, until for work and career purposes I moved away to Northern England to where my first novel is based. Often on my days off from training to be a nurse, I would miss the smell of the sea air, the sound of the ocean. It was pretty land locked where I trained. There was beautiful and very famous countryside as I was not far from Howarth and Bronte land. Many a time I would sit in a cafe, people watching, storing facts for my future stories.

If I had sufficient time off I could explore the wilds of Yorkshire and it too has spurned many a story. Barbara Taylor Bradford set her Harte series in Yorkshire and although through the books you moved to London, Australia and America her roots were from Yorkshire.

No although the Yorkshire wilds were truly lovely, they were not the sea. I later returned to the South West to raise a family and share my passions with them. My son loved the sea so much, he joined the Royal Navy.

Recently you would have read that I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and part of my treatment was relaxation therapy. Me relax Huh!! That had always been a problem, soothing whale song would drive me nuts, mediation was an art I could not master. How this lady was going to get me to relax I did not know.

Well we all learn something new everyday, we started with deep breathing which to be honest I do find relaxing but can't always switch off, the Occupational therapist summed up my problem, I needed to find my inner calm or my passion. There it was the beach, slowly she taught me how to deep breathe and within a few moments I was there at my beach. She told me to feel the sand between my toes, the warmth of the sun on my face that I was safe and calm. Really her work was done when she mentioned the beach, that is where my inner calm, my passionate soul craves for. Where we live now is a few hours away from the nearest beach but I can now be there in my mind's eye in an instant.

I can walk along the beach, feel the sand, see the seaweed, smell the ocean, hear the water lapping around my feet, the waves crashing on the shore. I feel at home, at peace. We are planning to move back close to the beach in approximately 18 months from now but I no longer need to pine for the sea because I carry it with me all the time.

The moment I start to feel stressed, in pain, unhappy; I can sit back, take some deep breathes and I am there, can you imagine where your passionate place is? We all have a place where our souls feel at home. Mine is not my literal home but in my minds eye that beach probably in North Devon with miles of golden sand and very little else around. You walk far enough and you leave the families, surfers and sunbathers behind to peace and quiet, just the ocean and you.

If you take one thing from this post today, think where is your passionate place? Where does your soul feel at home at peace?

If your happy to share your happy place, I would love to hear from you. Until Friday take care and come back soon :-)

12 comments:

Lesley - What an interesting topic!! I think all of us have that sort of place, and I can certainly see why the ocean is so important to you. Right now, I live about 10km from the sea, and it does have quite a pull, doesn't it? I've spent lots of holiday time at various seaside places, and there is something that's very compelling...

As I read your post, I was also thinking of Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels, which also have seaside settings. If you haven't read them, you may be interested.

Lovely, Lesley. When I am walking it always feels more natural to be going towards the sea rather than away from it.

My sister had hypnotherapy a little while ago to help her with her fear of flying. She was told to "go" to her most special place, which turned out to be my garden! (As you know, this is in the South West - near the sea).

There's a lot to be gained from concentrating on something outside of yourself!

aaaaaaaaaah the sea,love it,am priveledged to live less than a mile from it with the most beautiful view aross the bay.I am blesssed.even though its a wickedy cold wind in wintertime.I think my happy place is just outside Scrborough Castle looking over the town and sea .This is where we spread mums ashes,happy childhood memories/the smell of the sea/fish&chips and candy floss.The sounds of whirring amusements.Brill.Effie x

My Passions

The Lesley Galston story, it may not be interesting to you but it's my story and my journey.
When my health allows, I like to read, to blog and to write. The aim is to have more good days than the not so good days, as life is short enough as it is. I love the smells after a fresh rainfall and with husband, my soul mate and our two little dogs, love nothing better than taking time to smell the roses.